COVID-19 Immunization Update

ALL RESIDENTS AGED 12 AND OLDER ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FIRST AND SECOND DOSE IMMUNIZATIONS.
There must be a minimum of 28 days between your first and second dose.

The Right Time to Immunize is NOW
The best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community from serious illness and death is to be fully immunized. By increasing the number of fully immunized residents, we decrease the chance of additional outbreaks, serious illness and death. The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) encourages all residents to be immunized with both doses as soon as you are eligible.

The SHA has made it easy to be immunized and tested close to home or wherever your journey takes you this summer through: booked appointments, drive-thru and walk-in clinics, pop-up clinics, and participating pharmacies.

The SHA has over 62,000 booked appointments available for first and second dose immunizations of Pfizer or Moderna at clinics throughout the province. As well, over 97,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine were received this week with more than 180,000 expected over the next two weeks. These newly arrived vaccines will be available both through SHA clinics and at participating pharmacies. While it has proven safe and effective to interchange mRNA vaccines for second dose, those between the ages of 12 and 17 and those seeking Pfizer as a second dose should seek vaccination clinics and appointments now.

Booked appointment dates and times vary, please check the online booking site for an appointment close to you. AstraZeneca available at many clinics by request.

Testing remains an important part of a multi-layered approach to personal protection against COVID-19 including choosing to wearing a mask, washing your hands often, staying home if you are unwell and getting immunized when it’s available to you. Even if you are experiencing mild symptoms you should be tested for your safety and the safety of those around you.

ONCE YOU BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR IMMUNIZATION, YOU ARE ALWAYS ELIGIBLE.
This applies to both first and second dose immunizations.
Residents are reminded to hold onto the card given to them at immunization, as it contains valuable information including the date, and the vaccine used.

For additional information on COVID-19 vaccines and immunization, visit saskatchewan.ca/COVID-19 vaccine.

Where to Get Immunized

Saskatchewan residents have multiple options for receiving first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccine when eligible.

To be immunized, and for the most up-to-date information on available clinic locations and hours the following resources are available:

• Drop in to one of our mobile or pop-up clinics when we announce one in your community.
• See the full list of drive-thru and walk-in clinics and hours at www.saskatchewan.ca/drive-thru-vax.
• Book an appointment online 24/7 at saskatchewan.ca/COVID-19 vaccine.
• Call 1-833-SASKVAX (1-833-727-5829) to book your appointment, 7 days a week, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Visit your local pharmacy. For a list of participating pharmacies, including vaccine brands available, visit   www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-pharmacies.

Changing Vaccine Brands Between First & Second Doses

In response to updated statements by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, Saskatchewan’s clinical experts have recommended that individuals in Saskatchewan who received AstraZeneca as their first dose be offered the choice of receiving AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer/Moderna) as their second dose.

Where AstraZeneca is on hand, residents who had it as a first dose will be offered the choice of either AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine for their second dose. AstraZeneca remains a safe vaccine and two doses are effective against severe disease and hospitalization.
Individuals who have received two doses of any COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Canada should be considered protected and do not require an additional vaccine at this time.

mRNA Vaccines are Interchangeable

Residents who received Pfizer or Moderna as their first dose should take whichever of those two vaccines that is available to them for their second dose, rather than waiting for the same brand of vaccine. The Pfizer brand remains the only one approved for use in children ages 12-17.

A vaccine is only approved by Health Canada if it is safe, it works, it meets manufacturing standards, and the benefits outweigh any

Vaccine Brand First Dose	Vaccine Brands Permitted for Second Dose
Pfizer	Pfizer or Moderna
Moderna	Moderna or Pfizer
AstraZeneca	AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna